罚
fá · HSK 5
punish
⚖️ 罚 = 罒 (net) + 言 (speech) + 刂 (knife): caught, judged, cut
Ancient legal logic: the net 罒 traps the offender, words 言 deliver the verdict, the knife 刂 enforces the penalty. All three components together spell out punishment by due process.
罚 — net 罒 + words 言 + knife 刂
罚 (traditional 罰) combines 罒 (net), 言 (words/speech), and 刂 (knife), depicting punishment for verbal offenses — catching wrongdoers in a net and applying penalty. Originally referred to lighter punishments by reprimand, contrasted with 刑 for corporal punishment. Today it broadly means to punish or fine.